Pressurized paste dispensers



March 12, 1957 E. THEoDoRou 2,784,878

PRESSURIZED PASTE DISPENSERS Filed Oct. 24. 1955 United States Patent i2,734,878 rREssURIzED PASTE DISPENSERS Ignatius E''Iheodorou, Haverhill,Mass. Application october`24, 195s, serial 10,542,159 s claims. (Cl.zzz- 95) This invention'frelates to improvements in paste dispensers andmore particularly to pressurized paste dispensers lt has been proposedheretofore "to :provide pressurized paste dispensers wherein gas underpressure constantly is active tending to eject paste and effective forejecting the pastewlrenever the mouth of the dispenser 'is opened. Insome cases, `the gash-as `acted onza piston or plunger which directlyengages the paste and which maintains the paste constantly undercompression rea-dy to discharge when the mouth of 'the dispenser4 isopened. Another variety of prior pressurized paste dispenser has had thepaste within a llexible and collapsible container mounted loosely withinthe lmain chamber ofthe dispenser with gas under` pressure within theirlin chamber and cnstantly tending to squeeze land collapse the pasteholding container. Hereagain the paste "is eitpected to`be ejected whenthe dispenser mouth is opened.

`It is among the objects ofiny present inventiontoprovide a pressurizedpaste dispensen'whe'rein fluid under pressure is maintained apa-rt `fromthe paste :and `acts on the paste only periodically Ifan-d `'momentarilywhen the dispenser is manually operated. According to the invention, thepaste normally is in a relaxed state in which it assumes a naturalposition of ease within its container, and ejecting `fluid pressure`acts upon or is `transmitted to the paste only momentarily whenever thedispenser is manually operated. K Y Another object of the invention isto `provide a pressurized paste dispenser wherein thepaste 'and uidunder pressure are in separate compartments of the dispenser, andwherein there is manually operable means for simultaneously opening aHuid passage from the pressure iluid compartment intothe pastecompartment thereby to effect fluid pressure ejection of paste until themanually operable means is released, there being spring `meansforrestoring said means to its condition closingsaid fluid` passage and`for simultaneously venting the pastecomp'artment to atmosphere when themanually operable means is released.

A further object of the invention is toprovide'a pressurized pastedispenser wherein the paste continues non-toxic within -the dispenserfor `an indefinite period of time.

-It is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve thestructure and `effectiveness `of pressurized paste dispensersbysubjecting the paste to ejecting pressure only momentarily at thedesire-d times of paste ejection.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a medial crosssectional View of a paste dispenser embodyingfeatures of my invention, a conventional variety Iof paste tube 'being'shown 'in elevation;

Fig. 2 is `a View generally similar to Fig. 1 but showing the valvemeans in manually actu-ated conditions, as when paste is being ejectedor dispensed; and` p Fig. 3 is a medial cross-sectional view of a modiedform of paste dispenser embodying features of my invention.

ice

4 Referring `to *thefdrawing 'the `dispenser vlt) may fbe formedoiffsheet metalor any other suitable material. In teriorlyythe dispenser`is divided-'by wall 12to"proV-ide two compartments or chambers `i4, ldof which the chamber 14 preferably will 4have dimensions foraccomodating a` conventional tube 18-of tooth paste or any other pasteorpaste-like substance. It should be understood, however, that the pastemay be within a tube or `other container having any of various shapesand sizes so long asftlie tube or container walls areoffanature'to yield'underpressure toeject paste through `the outlet passage in neck 20.Also, it should 'be understoodit-hat the features of the invention maybe employed in'conjunction with -the well vknown plunger `or pistonprinciple of ejection, as suggested in Fig. 3. w l

As represented in Figs. 142,? the dispenser l0, at one end thereof, hasa relatively large opening 22 therein which is closed by the screw-oncap 24. Cap 24 lhas a central opening for `freelyaccommodatingthe-necklt of 'the tube, anda nut `216 may be screwed eXterioily on 'neck20 to securelthet-ube to the cap 24, preferablyfwith a -ga'sket'28,o`rother sealing material, interiorlyor` the cap, foreifecting a`duid-tight seal around -neck 2u and between cap` 24 and the adjacentdispenser walls when the cap is sctewed tightly in Iplace.

Fluid underpressure is within compartment or chamber 16, and interiorwall 12 thas valve means therein whereby pressure fluid from chamberltrmay be admitted rto chamber 14 for applying squeezing pressure tothe'tube `18 when it is desiredto ,ejecty 1paste from Ithe tube. As`herein represented, the valve ineens comprises-a relatively thickresilient gasket 30,of 4rubbenfor the like, retained in an openingin'wall 112, in cnjunction with a relatively rigid supportingelement732. A tubular valveunember 34 extends s'lidably thrughlelementland gasket 3d. Valve `member 34 has `an enlarged end V portion adjacentto Vgasket 30 with `an inclined wall'portion 35 providing an -openingat36 into `the rinterior of the tubularvalve member '34. "A `generallysimilar but reversely arranged enlargementat the other end of valvemember 34 has an inclined wall `portion 3S providing anfopening at 38`into the interior of the valve member 34. A springdi) engages betweenelement 32 and an abutment 42 on the valve member constantly `biasingAthe latter to its position of Fig. l wherein the opening 36 is closedby'the gasket 30 sealing' the valveniember 34 against flow therethroughfrom chamber 16 to `chamber 14. "However, when the valve member is movedin direction toluncover the opening 36, gas or other iluid underpressure in chamber 16 can enter the valve member through opening 86,pass longitudinally within the tubular valve member and dischargethrough opening 38, which always is open, into the chamber 14.

A `seco'ndvalve means `is mounted in 1the lower end wall 44 of thedispenser, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. This valve means comprises arelatively thick resilient gasket 46, of rubber, or the like, retainedin "an opening in'wall 44, in conjunction with a relatively rigidsupporting element 48. A tubular valve member 50 extends slidablythrough element 48 and gasket 46 and has shape generally similar tothatof the previously described valveinember 34. One `enlarged end of valvemember 50 is located exteriorly of end wall 44 and constitutes `a buttonat 52 which may be actuated by linger pressure 'to move valve member 50inwardly of the dispenser. A rigidrodv54 connects -the valve membersV34, 59 for Vm'ovenient in unison so vthat a linger actuation `of valvemember 50 is 1ccompanied by a corresponding actuation of valve" meme1"3'4.

One of the enlarged end portions of valve member 50 has an inclinedsurface 51 providing an opening 56 into the interior of the valvemember. The other enymaterial or seep past the piston member 62.

larged end portion of this valve member has an inclined surface 51',adjacent to gasket 46, providing an opening 58 into the interior of thevalve member. These two openings 56, 58 normally are open providing avent passage through valve member 50 from chamber 14 to atmosphere.However, when valve member 50 is manually actuated from its Fig. 1position to its Fig. 2 position, opening 56 becomes sealed by gasket 46and remains sealed as long as valve member 50 is manually held in itsFig. 2 position. Simultaneously, the other valve member 34 moves touncover the opening 36 within chamber 16 and pressure fluid is admittedthrough valve member 34 into chamber 14 from chamber 16, to applysqueezing pressure to the paste container and a resulting ejection ofpaste through neck 20. As soon as valve member 50 is released, spring 40restores the valve mem` bers to their Fig. 1 positions in which opening36 is closed, cutting off flow between the chambers, and openings 56, 58are open for venting chamber 14 to atmosphere.

Any suitable readily openable cap 60 may be provided for the pastecontainer opening in neck 20.

Fig. 3 shows a modification wherein the paste is dif connection with thedrawing, 'that I have provided a 'l pressurized paste dispenser whereingas or other fluid under pressure is transmitted to the paste onlymomentarily at times of actuation of button 52. At all other times,atmospheric pressure prevails around the paste container 18 in the Figs.1 and 2 embodiment, and on vthe piston member 62 in the Fig. 3embodiment. Hence,

the paste during periods between actuations of button S2 is in a naturalu-n-pressurized condition of ease within its container ready foreiiective response to ejecting pres- Also, by relieving the paste ofconstant substansure. tial pressure, the paste-ejecting gas or otherfluid under pressure does not penetrate through the container wallHence, the paste continues indefinitely in a non-toxic condition withinthe dispenser, which makes it feasibleV to dispense yfood in paste form,and various other paste materials which must be maintained in anon-toxic condition.

Various changes in details of the disclosed dispensers Ymay be madewithin the scope of the appended claims,

and it is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expressionin the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist inthe invention disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

l. A paste dispenser comprising walls delining a fluid pressure chamberand a chamber for holding a supply of material in paste form, meansdefining an outlet in a wall portion of said vpaste holding chamber,valve means `operable to open a passage for flow of fluid underVpressure from said liuid pressure chamber into paste-ejecting relationto the paste in said paste holding chamber,-

resilient means constantly biasing said valve means to a position inwhich it closes said liow passage, manually operable means connected tosaid valve means for actuating said valve means in opposition to itssaid bias thereby to open said flow passage, and means for venting saidpaste holding chamber to atmosphere in response to each movement of saidvalve means to its position closing said ow passage.

2. A paste dispenser comprising walls dening a lluid afsasrs pressurechamber and a chamber for holding a supply of material in paste form,means defining an outlet in a wall portion of said paste holdingchamber, valve means including one valve element movable between aposition in which it seals the dispenser against ow of pressure fluidbetween said chambers and a position in which fluid under pressure canliow from said fluid pressure chamber into said paste holding chamberthereby to eject paste through said outlet, said valve means alsoincluding a second valve element rigidly connected to said one valveelement and arranged and adapted to eifect venting of said paste holdingchamber to atmosphere whenever said flow passage is sealed and to sealsaid paste holding chamber against outflow of pressure fluid therefromwhenever said flow passage is open.

3. A paste dispenser comprising walls dening a fluid pressure chamberand an adjacent chamber for holding a compressible container of paste,means providing an outlet passage through which paste may be ejectedfrom said container and the chamber in which the container is held,manually operable valve means movable to release pressure iiuid from theiiuid chamber into said adjacent chamber whereby the released fluidunder pressure squeezes said paste container to eject paste through saidoutlet passage, a spring constantly biasing said valve means to aposition in which it seals said uid pressure chamber against flow ofpressure fluid therefrom into said adjacent chamber, and meansresponsive to operations of said valve means for venting said adjacentchamber to atmosphere whenever said fluid pressure chamber is sealedagainst outflow and for sealing said adjacent chamber against outow ofpressure fluid therefrom whenever said valve means is operated torelease pressure fluid from said fluid pressure chamber into saidadjacent chamber.

4. A paste dispenser comprising a closed receptacle, a

fcompressible container of iiuid material supported within saidreceptacle and having an outlet passage extending through a wall portionof the receptacle, means defining an iniiow passage for inflow ofpressure fluid to the insaid container to material-ejecting iiuidpressure within 'said receptacle while said receptacle is sealed againstescape `of pressure fluid therefrom, and movable in the `oppositedirection for simultaneously closing said inflow passage and openingsaid Venting passage thereby to relieve said container ofmaterial-ejecting pressure.

5. A dispenser comprising walls defining a iluid pres- 'sure chamber anda chamber for holding a supply of ma- `terial in a iiuid state, meansdeining an outlet in a wall 'portion of said material-holding chamber,valve means operable to open a passage for flow of uid under pressurefrom said tiuid pressure chamber into material-ejecting relation to thematerial in said material-holding chamber, resilient means constantlybiasing said valve means to a position in which it closes said ti'owpassage, manually operable means connected to said valve means for'actuating said valve means in opposition to its said bias thereby toopen said flow passage, and means for venting 'said material-holdingchamber to atmosphere in response to each movement of said valve meansto its position closing said iiow passage.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 59,188Compton Oct. 30, 1866 103,498 Pohlmann May 24, 1870 1,996,792 Bystrickyet al. Apr. 9, 1935

